Project Gutenberg Etext of The Large Catechism, by Martin Luther

topple us over by force, he prowls and moves about on all sides, tries
all devices, and does not desist until he finally wearies us, so that
we either renounce our faith or yield hands and feet and become
listless or impatient. Now to this end the consolation is here given
when the heart feels that the burden is becoming too heavy, that it may
here obtain new power and refreshment.
But here our wise spirits contort themselves with their great art and
wisdom, crying out and bawling: How can bread and wine forgive sins or
strengthen faith Although they hear and know that we do not say this
of bread and wine, because in itself bread is bread, but of such bread
and wine as is the body and blood of Christ, and has the words attached
to it. That, we say, is verily the treasure, and nothing else, through
which such forgiveness is obtained. Now the only way in which it is
conveyed and appropriated to us is in the words (Given and shed for
you). For herein you have both truths, that it is the body and blood of
Christ, and that it is yours as a treasure and gift. Now the body of
Christ can never be an unfruitful, vain thing, that effects or profits
nothing. Yet however great is the treasure in itself, it must be
comprehended in the Word and administered to us, else we should never
be able to know or seek it.
Therefore also it is vain talk when they say that the body and blood of
Christ are not given and shed for us in the Lord's Supper, hence we
could not have forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament. For although the
work is accomplished and the forgiveness of sins acquired on the cross,
yet it cannot come to us in any other way than through the Word. For
what would we otherwise know about it, that such a thing was
accomplished or was to be given us if it were not presented by
preaching or the oral Word Whence do they know of it, or how can they
apprehend and appropriate to themselves the forgiveness, except they
lay hold of and believe the Scriptures and the Gospel But now the
entire Gospel and the article of the Creed: I believe a holy Christian
Church, the forgiveness of sin, etc., are by the Word embodied in this
Sacrament and presented to us. Why, then, should we allow this treasure
to be torn from the Sacrament when they must confess that these are the
very words which we hear everywhere in the Gospel, and they cannot say
that these words in the Sacrament are of no use, as little as they dare
say that the entire Gospel or Word of God, apart from the Sacrament, is
of no use
Thus we have the entire Sacrament, both as to what it is in itself and
as to what it brings and profits. Now we must also see who is the
person that receives this power and benefit. That is answered briefly,
as we said above of Baptism and often elsewhere: Whoever believes it
has what the words declare and bring. For they are not spoken or
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